Printing machine



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Allg 14, Q H. SAND PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 /Eifj Patented Aug. 14, 1945 PRINTING MACHIN E Charles H. Sand, Willoughby, Ohio, assignor to Addressog'raph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,633

(Cl. lOl- 227) v 4 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to devices for controlling the feeding o'f a web to be printed to such machines.

In printing machines of the character to which the present invention pertains a continuous web is passed through the machine to have spaced impressions made thereon by the printing means in the machine and thereafter the web is severed into sheets each of which bears such an impression. It is desirable that the various impressions made on the web be uniformly spaced, and it is also desirable, where a web severing means is incorporated in the machine, that such means shall accurately divide the web into sheets of uniform size intermediate the impression and yet have uniform and predetermined margins adjacent the printed matter on the sheets. All this entails accurate control of the feeding of the web to the printing machine and to enable this to be accomplished in a novel and expeditious manner is a primary object of this invention.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with a printing machine embodying a rotary printing couple. including an arcuate rotary printing medium, such as a plate, blanket or type segment, that cooperates with a rotaryplaten or impression cylinder to print upon the web. As the web advances through the printing couple it receives an impression from the printing medium during each rotation of the couple and at least one element f the printing couple em- `bodies an interrupted surface so that there are periods during the rotationof the couple in which the web is not gripped thereby, and during these periods the web comes to rest thereby enabling the web severing means to divide the web into separate sheets.

Heretofore it has been proposed to employ web feeding means comprising intermittently driven feed rollers to advance a web through the printing couple of a printing machine in a step-bystep manner so as to enable printing to be effected on the web during the periods of advancing movement and severance of the web during the time the web is at rest in the course of such advancing movement. In such prior arrangements it has been customary to locate such a web feeding means beyond the printing couple in the direction of travel of the web, usually intermediate the printing couple and the severing means. While this has been useful in accurately gauging the size of the sheets severed from the web, it has not afforded a reliable control of the registration ofthe sheet sections of the web with the printing medium on the printing couple, with the result that often the printed matter was not properly located on the sheets. This was chiefly caused by the tendency of the web to buckle or creep due to the intermittent driving action of the printing couple upon it. Moreover, the feed rollers acting upon the printed portion of the web tended to smear the ink thereon, unless such means were positioned a considerable distance away from the printing couple to enable the ink to dry thoroughly before coming in contact with the web driving rollers.

It is therefore another important object of the present invention to insure accurate registration of the web with the printing medium by arranging the lautomatic: web feeding and stopping means to be effective upon the web prior to advance thereof into the printing couple to thereby effectively prevent any objectionable movement of the web and yet enable the web feeding and stopping means to be located closely adjacent the printing couple.

A further object is to arrange the web feed rollers and a braking means therefor to be operated in positive timed relation with the operation of the printing means.

A still further object is to render the apparatus adjustable to thereby enable production of sheets of varying width.

Still another object is to provide web feeding, stopping and severing means of simple and economical construction which may be readily attached to conventional printing machines thatare ordinarily equipped to handle only pre-cut sheets or forms, to thereby adapt such machines to the handling of Web material.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying-that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art Without departingfrom the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a printing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the printing machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the web feeding and stopping means and a portion of the printing machine proper; f

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail view of certain` control mechanisms for the web feeding and stopping means Fig. 5 is afragmental plan view of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan sectionahview taken on the line 'I-l on Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the web severing means and associated structure;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectionall view taken on the line 9-9 on Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line I-I0 on Fig. 9; and

nism C is located on the other side of this machine. The printing machine A is preferably of conventional design and the mechanisms B and C are arranged .to be attached to such a printing machine so as to adapt it for use with a web W. These mechanisms are desirably readily detachable from the printing machine so that they may be removed when it is desired to utilize the printing machine independently of them as, for example, where the machine is to be employed for printing pre-cut sheets or the like.

The printing machine A in the present instance is an offset lithographie press provided with a blanket cylinder I5, Fig. 3, carrying a printing surface or blanket I1 which receives inked impressions from. a planographic plate I8 carried by a plate cylinder I9. The blanket I1 cooperates with a platen cylinder I6 to print upon a web W which is passed into the bite of the cylinders I and I6. The opposed surfaces of the blanket Il and the impression face of the platen cylinder I6 are interrupted circumferentially so that the web W is periodically released from the bite of the printing couple, and during these periods the web is brought to rest to enable a section thereof bearing an impression to be severed from the web by the severing mechanism C, Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the web is divided into separate sheets. The web handling mechanism B is so arranged as to accurately time the stoppage and resumption of movementof the web so that the printed matter will be accurately positioned on the sheets and also to insure that the sheets will be of uniform size. l

The web handling mechanism B is supported by a stand or frame carried by a base structure 25, Fig. 3, that is preferably mounted on casters 26 so as to facilitate moving the web handling mechanism B into or out of association withthe printing machine A. When the web handling mechanism B is to be operatively associated with the printing machine A, the base 25 is connected by turnbuckles 21 to a tie rod 28 on the frame 29 of the printing machine A. The web' W is withdrawn from a roll R of paper or other material supported on a shaft 30 journaled in bifurcations in the ends of arms 3|, the other ends of these arms 3| being pivotally mounted on a tie rod 32 extending across the base 25. Vertical links 33 extend upwardly from the arms 3l and /asaasos are pivotally connected at their upper ends to rocker arms 34 secured to a rock shaft 35, Figs.

2 and 3, which is journaled in uprights 38 included in the frame of the web handling mechanism B. The upper ends of the links 33 are offset at right angles to clear the shaft 35, as shown in Fig. 3, and the arrangement is such that when the arms 34 are positioned past dead center, the

weight of the roll R acting through the links 33 f urges the arms 34 against stops 31 carried by the frame of the mechanism B. The arms 3l and the roll R carried thereby are thus normally maintained in raised position, but when it is desired to lower the arms 3I, for instance when a new roll is to be inserted, the shaft 35 is turned by means of a crank 38, Figs. 1 and 2, to swing the arms 34 to the other side of. dead center, enabling the arms 3l to descend so that a new roll may be conveniently introduced. The crank 38 is then turned to raise the arms 3| and roll R clear of the floor or other surface on which the machine rests.

There are, in the present instance, two different devices embodied in the mechanism B for feeding the web W from the roll R to the printing machine A. One of these,described more fully hereinafter, effects the accurately timed intermittent advancing and stopping of the web which is necessary to the successful operation of the entire apparatus. However, inasmuch as a roll of paper R, particularly when new, is quite heavy and may possess considerable inertia, it is preferred not to rely upon the just referred to web advancing means for effecting the initial withdrawal of the web W from the roll R, since the load which this would place upon the aforesaid device might be detrimental to the accuracy with which it should function. Therefore, I have provided suitable means for effecting the initial withdrawal of the web W from the roll R.

The last referred to means comprises an electrically-operated motor unit 4U, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 4I secured to the frame of the mechanism B, this motor unit 4U being provided with friction rollers 42 which rest on the upper periphery of the roll R. When the motor in the unit 40 is in operation, the rollers 42 impart unwinding movement to the roll R to effect withdrawal of a web W from this roll.

From the roll R the web W passes beneath a diabolo 45v whichis carried by a rocker 46 pivotally mounted on the uprights 36. The rocker 46 is provided with short lever arms 41 which are connected by springs 48 to plates 49 secured to the uprights 36 in spaced relation to the pivot centers of the rocker 46. Spaced holes are provided in the plates 49 and by`anchoring corresponding ends of the springs 48 in selected of these holes the tension of these springs may be adjusted to enable the diabolo to impart the de-I sired tension to the web W. After passing the diabolo 45, a web W is led upwardly to the top of the frame ofthe web handling mechanism B and is passed around a roller 50, Figs. 2 and 3, mounted on a shaft 53 carried by uprights 5I forming part of the frame of the mechanism B, the edges of the web being guided by collars 52 on the roller 50.

It has been mentioned hereinabove that the web handling mechanism B is provided with a motor unit 40 for effecting withdrawal of the web W from the roll R and with additional means for accurately feeding the web in a step-by-step manner into the printing machine A. 'I'he latter means comprises the web` feeding and stopping unit, generally designated 55, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which is carried between side plates 56 and 51 on the frame of the web handling mechanism B. The side plates 56 and 51, Figs. 2, 3 and 6, are interconnected by a cross bar 58 which '-is connected by threaded studs 59 to a portion of the frame 29 of the printing machine A.

The web W, after passing over the roller 50, advances through a web looping means to be described presently and into ,cooperative relation with the devices included in this web feeding and stopping unit 55. Since the motor unit 40 is to cperate in such a manner that the proper amount of web is withdrawn to be available for advancement into the printing machine A each time'the unit 55 functions to impart movement to the web, I have provided means controlled by the just-mentioned web looping means for aul tomatically regulating the operation of the motor unit 40.

The web looping means comprises a roller 60 which is xedly mounted on a horizontal shaft 6|, the ends of which extend through vertical guide slots 62 in the uprights 5|. The roller 6l) is effective to form a loop in the web W intermediate the roller 50 and the web feeding and stopping unit 55, thereby taking up any slack in this portion of the web. As the unit 55 operates to feed the web into the printing machine A, in the manner presently to be described, the loop in the web W is reduced in size and the roller 68 rises. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, pinions 63 secured to the shaft 6| mesh with vertically extending racks 64 positioned 0n the uprights 5| adjacent the slots 62, and this serves to maintain the shaft 6| in a' horizontal position as it moves vertically.

As the roller 60 nears the upper limits of the guide slots 62, toward the completion of each step of advancing movement to the web W by the unit 55, the shaft 6| engages an arm of a lever'65, Fig. 3, pivotally mounted at 66 on one of the uprights 5|, and as the shaft 6| continues to rise it rocks the lever 65 slightly to effect closure of a normally open switch 61 which is included in the electrical circuit of the motor of the unit 40. Such closure of the switch 6l completes this circuit and sets the motor unit 40 in operation, thereby imparting unwinding movement to the roll R. As the roll unwinds, the web looping roller 60 takes up the slack in the web W withdrawn from` the roll R, the roller 60 descending as it does so until a loop of predetermined size is formed in the web W, whereupon the switch 61 opens and interrupts operation of the motor 40. A brake 68, Fig. l, on the shaft 38 of the roll R maintains suiicient friction on this shaft at all times to prevent the roll R from overrunning when the motor unit 40 ceases operation. 'Ihus it is insured that the right amount of slack in the web W will be available each time the web feeding unit 55 is ready for operation. and consequently the unit 55 merely need overcome the relatively light load of the roller 68 rather than the relatively heavy load which would Abe imposed upon if it operated to withdraw the web W directly from the roll R.

After the web W passes from the looping roller 68 it is led over a guide roller 10, Figs. 2, 3 and 6, rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 1| carried by the side plates 56 and 51, this roller 10 being provided with collars 12 for guiding the edges of the web W. The web W is then passed successively around a clamping roller 13 and a feed roller 14, the web assuming an S-shaped bend as it passes around the rollers 13 and 14. Preferably, the feed roller 14 is discontinuous, as shown in Fig. 2, comprising a central knurled portion and a series of discs on either side thereof, all of which are secured to a shaft 15 journaled in the side plates 56 and 51. clamping roller 13 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 16 carried by 'a rocker 11 pivotally mounted on a shaft 18 Journaled in the side plates 56 and 51 of the web feeding unit 55. Springs 19 anchored to a rod 60 extending between the side plates 56 and 51 are connected to threaded rods 8l, Fig. 6, carrying wing nuts 82 which bear against the rocker 11, causingthe clamping roller 13 to be urged against the feed roller 14. The tension of the springs 19 may be adjusted by turning the wing nuts 82 until the desired contact pressure between the rollers 13 and 14 is attained.

The feed roller 14 is adapted to be intermittently driven in such relation to the printing couple |5-|6, Fig. 3, that the amount of web which is advanced through this printing couple each time the web feeding unit 55 operates is slightly greater, by a. predetermined extent, than the effective length of the opposed impression surfaces of the blanket |1 and platen |6. Relferring to Figs. 3 and 4,'a shaft 85 in the printing machine A is arranged to be driven by a, suitable source of power, such as the motor 86 of the printing machine, in timed relation with the rotation of the cylinders |5 and I6 of the printing couple. A gear 86 is secured to this shaft outwardly of one of the side plates of the printing couple, and this gear is adapted to mesh withJ a gear 81, Figs. 4, 5 and 7, of the same" diameter as the gear 86, the gear 81 being rotatably mounted on a sleeve 88, Fig. 7, on the shaft 18 in the web feeding unit 55, outwardly-of the side plate 56 of this unit. A pawl 98, Fig. 4, pivotally secured to the outer face ofthe gear 81 is normally urged by a spring 9| into engagement with the periphery of a ratchet wheel 92 mounted on a reduced portion of the sleeve 88, Fig. 7, outwardly of the gear81. A gear 93, Figs. 5 and 7, of the same diameter as the gear 81 is rotatably mounted on a reduced portion of the sleeve 88 inwardly .of the gear 81. The sleeve 88 is pinned to the shaft 18 and is connected to the gear 93 and the ratchet wheel 92 by pins 94 which extend parallel to the shaft 18 through the shouldered portion of the sleeve 88, on which the gear 81 is rotatably mounted, and into sockets in the gear 93 and ratchet wheel 92, thereby securing said gear and ratchet wheel to the shaft 18.

When the web handling mechanism B is assembled in operative relation to the printing machine A, as shown in Fig. l, the gears 86 and 81 are meshed and the gear 81 is constantly driven by the gear 86 so long as the printing machine is in operation. The pawl 98, Fig. 4, carried by the gear 81/ affords a connection between this gear and the ratchet wheel 92 secured to the shaft 18, for thereby driving the shaft 18 rotatably in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The gear 93, Figs. 5 and 7, secured to the shaft 18 meshes with a pinion 95 fast to the shaft 15 of the'feed roller 14 so that the feed roller 14 is driven clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, to advance the web W into the bite of the printing couple |5-|6, Fig. 3, so long as the gear 93 is rotating. The circuitous path of the web W Thearound the clamping roller 13 and feed roller 1l, Fig. 6, insures suiiicient friction to prevent slippage of the web relative to the feed roller. Prior to entering the bite of the printing couple il-ll, Fig. 3, the web W passes beneath an adjustable guide member 38 included in the printing machine A, this member serving to guide the web into the printing couple substantially at a tangent to the cooperating cylinders |5|0.

Means are included in the web feeding and stopping unit 55 for periodically interrupting the advancing movement of the web W, and in the present instance such meas include an adjustable cam generally designated |00, Figs. 4 and 5, positioned coaxially of the ratchet wheel l2 and adapted to cooperate with a roller I|| on the pawl 30 for intermittently pivoting the pawl 90 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32 for a selected portion of each cycle of rotation of the gear 31. The cam |00 comprises a stationary plate |02 and an adjustable plate |03, these plates being mounted on the shaft 18 but not secured thereto and having cam surfaces concentric with respect to the shaft 18 and of equal radii greater than the radius of the ratchet wheel 92. A strap |04 secured to the stationary cam plate |02 is fastened to the end of the stationary shaft 1| on which the guide roller 10 is mounted, thereby securing the plate |02 against rotation. A threaded stud |05, Figs. 4 and '1, projecting from the face of the cam plate |02 is received in an arcuate slot |06 formed in the adjustable cam plate |03, and a nut |01 is provided on the stud |05 to clamp the cam plate |03 to the cam plate |02 in the desired relative positions thereof.

As the pawl 90 moves into cooperative relation with the cam |00, the roller, |0| rides up on the cam surface and the pawl 90 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 92. This is timed to occur shortly after the web is released from the grip of the printing couple |5-|6, Fig. 3, as the interrupted impression surfaces of the blanket I1 and platen I6 move out of web engaging relation. The web thereupon comes to rest and remains stationary while the roller |0I, Fig. 4, is riding on the cam |00. As the roller |0| rides Off this cam, the pawl 90 again engages the periphery of the ratchet wheel 92 and web feeding isresumed. This occurs shortly prior to the instant the printing couple again grips the web. In this manner the printed impressions on the web W are accurately spaced apart to leave a predetermined margin adjacent each impression when the web is later severed into sheets.

It is desirable that movement of the web W be arrested when the pawl 90 is disengaged from the ratchet 92 in order that the area of the web which is tolreceive an impression from the printing couple will be accurately registered with the printing medium carried by this couple. This would be defeated if any unwanted movement were to be imparted to the web due, for instance, to the momentum of the intermittently driven parts of the web feeding unit 55, or as a result of the tendency of the web looping roller 60 to retract the web. For this reason I employ a brake mechanism which is automatically operated, whenever the pawl 90 is disengaged from the ratchet, to frictionally restrain movement of the feed roller 13 and therefore the web W.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a brake drum I i0 is secured to the shaft 13 inwardly of the side plate 50. A brake band encircling the drum I I0 carries at each end thereof a lug ||2. A rod :,ssasos |I3 extends vertically through openings in the lugs ||2 and is supported by a bracket Ill lecured to the inner face of the side plate I3. A coiled comprenion spring Ill surrounding the rodA ||3 is disposed between the lugs ||2 and tends to maintain these lugs separated sufiiciently so that normally no appreciable braking force is applied to the drum I3 and shaft 13 by the brake band 'I'he lower lug ||2 is seated on a shoulder on the rod ||3, and the upper lug ||2 is connected to and supports a collar ||3 which is provided with a V-shaped notch receiving a tooth ||1 formed on a collar ||3 disposed above the collar ||0 on the rod ||3, the collar ||3 being restrained against upward movement by lock nuts Ill threaded on the rod ||3. An arm |23, Fig. 5. extending from the collar ||3 is pivotally connected by a link |2| toan upwardly extending arm |22, Figs. 6 and '1. secured to a rock shaft |23 journaled in the side plate 50. A downwardly extending arm |24 secured to the rock shaft |23 is normally urged by a spring |25 against a stop pin |20 to normally maintain the tooth ||1 of the collar ||3 seated in the notch in the collar I3 on the vertical rod ||3.

The rock shaft |23 extends through the side plate and carries an arm |30, Fig. 4, on the end of which a roller |3| is mounted. This roller is disposed in the path of a cam plate |32, Figs. 4, 5 and '1, secured to the inner face of the gear 31. The cam plate |32 is disposed to engage the roller |3| substantially concurrently with the engagement of the roller |0| on the pawl 30 with the cam |00, and thereupon the cam plate |32 rocks the arm |30 and shaft |23, rocking the lever |22, Fig. 6. The lever |22 pulls the link |2| and thereby rocks the collar i3 sumciently so that the tooth ||1 cams the collar ||6 downwardly along the vertical rod ||3, advancing the upper lug ||2 on the brake band toward the lower lug ||2. This causes the brake band to be contracted until it firmly grips the drum ||0, effectively braking the shaft 13 and all parts rigidly connected therewith, including the gear 33, ratchet wheel 02, pinion 05, shaft 15 and feed roller 1l. Thus the feed roller 14 and consequently the web W are arrested and restrained against movement when the posltivedrive for the feed roller 1| is interrupted in the manner above explained. The roller |3| on the arm |30 rides of! the cam |32 shortly prior to the instant the roller |3| on the pawl 30 rides off the cam |00, thereby releasing the braking mechanism so that web feeding will be resumed when the pawl 30 again engages the ratchet wheel 32.

The pawl and ratchet mechanism and associated gearing disposed outwardly of the side plate 56, Figs. 4 and 5, of the web feeding and stopping unit are enclosed within a housing |35 attached to this side plate. 'I'his housing is of sufficient length to also extend around the gear 03 on the printing machine A and is preferably attached in any convenient manner to the frame of the printing machine when the web handling mechanism B is assembled in operative relation thereto. A cover plate (not shown) is then attached to the housing to protect the control mechanisms enclosed therein.

After being printed upon by the printing couple |5-I0, Fig. 3, the web W passes over a guide member |33 in the printing machine A and then moves horizontally over a guide plate III into the web severing mechanism C, Figs. 1. 2. 8 and 9. The web severing mechanism C includes side plates |4| to which are secured angle bars |42 that abut and are secured to the frame of the printing machine A. Braces |43 extend between a tie rod |44 on the frame 29 of the printing machine A and a tie rod |45 interconnecting the side plates |4| of the mechanism C. Horizontal slots |46 are afforded in the side plates |4|, these slots being transversely aligned with each other and extending the greater part of the length of these side plates.

A grate-like structure for supporting the web W after it passes over the guide plate |40 is constructed of a plurality of parallel bars |41, Figs. 8 and 9, which are individuallyr secured to a rod |48 extending between the side plates |4|. The bars |41 extend horizontally at right angles to the rod |48 and rest upon another rod |49 disposed parallel and in spaced relation to the rod |48. The ends of the rods |48 and |49 are received in the slots |46 and these rods are provided with collars |50 and -clamping nuts |5| which are disposed on opposite sides of one of the side plates |4| for the purpose of securing the rods |48 and |49 in desired positions along the slots |46.

The web severing knife or cutter and associated web and sheet handling devices are supported by a base plate |54, Figs. 9 and 10, extending between the side plates |4|. Threaded projections on the ends of the base plate |54 are received in the slots |46 and are provided with clamping nuts |56 for adjustably securing the knife or cutter in the desired position relative to the printing machine A. The frame |51 of the web severing knife or cutter depends from the base plate |54 and is supported thereby. A at stationary knife blade |58 is secured to the frame |51 horizontally on a level with the grate bars |41. The movable knife blade |59 is positioned for operative cooperation with the cutting edge of the stationary blade |58 and is secured to a bar |60 extending transversely between a pair of arms 6|. The cutting edge of the movable blade |59 is tapered upwardly from each end thereof toward the middle of the blade in theform of an inverted V, as shown in Fig. 10. The depending end portions of the blade |59 abut the end portions of the cutting edge of the stationary blade |58 at all times, these two blades being maintained in contact with each other by springs |62, Fig, 8, extended between the arms |6| and anchors on the cutter frame |51.

The arms I6! carrying the movable knife blade |59 depend downwardly below the level of the stationary blade |58 and are connected by arms to a rock shaft |66 journaled in brackets |61 included in the cutter frame |51. Springs |65 extended between the arms |65 and the cutter frame |51 tend to maintain the knife bar |60 in raised position to enable the web W to be advanced beneath the movable blade |59. The slope of the cutting edge of the blade 59 on either side of the apex thereof is such that sufficient clearance is afforded to enable the web to freelypass beneath the blade |59 when the same is in its raised position. An arm |68 secured to and depending from the rock shaft |66 is connected by a slotted link |69, Figs. 9 and 3. and a' clamping member |10 to another link |1| pivotally connected to a lever |12 having a follower ccoperating with a cam |13 on the shaft 85 in the printing machine A. As the cam |13 rotates it rocks the lever |12, causing the links` |1| and. |69, Figs. 3 and 9, to be pulled to the left asviewed in these views, whereupon the vertically movable arms |6| are pulled downwardly by the arms |65 on the rock shaft |66 and the movable knife blade v|59 descends to sever a sheet from the web W. A clamp bar |64 is connected to the knife bar |60 by bolts |63' which freely pass thru the bar |60 and are threaded into the bar |64. Coiled springs |63 surround the shanks of the bolts |63 intermediate the bars |60 and |64. A rubber strip |64 imbedded in the bar |64 engages and clamps the web W immediately in back of the knife blade |59 when the knife bar |60 descends, the springs |63 yielding as the knife blade |59 severs the web. The cam |13, Fig. 3, is so disposed on the shaft 85 that the web severing operation occurs during intervals when the web W is stationary, it being recalled that the shaft 85 also drives the parts in the web feeding and stopping unit 55 which intermittently advance and arrest the web W.

It is desirable to provide a feeding means to act on the web W as it is advanced beneath the knife blade 59, the purpose of this being to maintain the web taut and smooth. Accordingly, in the present instance, a series of feed rollers |15, Fig. l0, fixed tor a shaft |16 journaled in the cutter frame |51 below the plane of the web vW, cooperate with the downwardly facing or unprinted surface of the web W intermediate the grating |41 and the knife blade |59. A pulley |11, Fig. 9, on the shaft |16 is connected by a belt |18 to a pulley |19, Figs. 9 and 3, on a constantly rotating shaft in the printing machine A. '.I'he belt |18 is passed about various guide pulleys IBI. Fig. 9, on the frames of the printing machine A and web severing mechanism C and also around a tightening pulley |82 mounted on a clamp block |83, Figs. 8 and 9, adjustably positioned `on a bar |84 which extends between the tie rod |45 and a stud |46 fastened to one of the side plates |4|. The roller |82 serves to take up the slack in the belt |18, as

y will be explained presently. The pulley |19 on the printing machine A, through the medium of the belt |18, drives the shaft |16 carrying the rollers |15 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, thereby tending to urge the web W toward the knife blade |59.

For the purpose of lightly pressing the web W against the rollers |15, discs |85 are pivotally mounted on arms |86 pivoted to a stationary shaft |81 carried by upwardly extending portions of the cutter frame |51, these discs being urged by gravity toward the feed rollers |15. The web W is guided by fingers |88 adjustably secured to a bar |89 on the frame |51 as it passes over the feed rollers |15 and thence beneath the knife blade |59. The feed rollers |15 continue to operate after the web is arrested and thereby serve to maintain the web under a slight tension for the purpose aforesaid. The discs |85, of course, do not move relative to the web W so that there is no danger of ysmearing any undried ink on the printed surface of the web.

As'the sheets are successively severed from the web they are deposited in a suitable receptacle |90, Figs. 1 and 2, upon a delivery #table |9 This table, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, is attached to and supported by a vertically movable frame |92 having a screw-threaded connection with a vertical threaded shaft |93, Figs. 10 and 11, journaled in the cutter frame |51. The table frame |92 is also slidably connected to vertical rods |94 supported by the cutter frame |51, these rods serving t0 guide the table frame |92 in its vertical move- |99, Fig. l1, and apawl |98 is arranged to cooperate with this ratchet,` the pawl being connected by a link |91 to an arm |98, Figs. 9, 10 and 1l, on the rock shaft |66. The pawl |99 is reciprocated in timed relation with the operation of the knife to impart a step of advancing movement to the ratchet |95 each time a sheet is severed from the web. The actuation of the ratchet by the pawl is so regulated that the threaded shaft |93 is.

turned sufficiently to lower the table frame |92 substantially in the amount of the thickness of a single sheet during each cutting operation, so as to maintain the top of the pile of cut sheets alt the proper level to receive new sheets as they are severed from the Web.

Provision has been made in the present machine f or varying the lengths of the sheets printed and severed from the web. 'Ihis is accomplished by varying the effective length of the adjustable cam |09, Fig. 4, to thereby regulate the amount of web which is advanced in each operation of the web feeding unit 55. In order to accurately sever the printed portion of the web intermediate the spaced impressions thereon, the cutter frame |51, Figs. 8 and 9, is adjusted longitudinally of the web by loosening the nuts |56 and moving the entire cutter frame |51 and connected parts to the desired position. The clamp |10, Fig. 3, which connects the links |69 and |1i, and the clamp block |83 carrying the web tightening pulley |82 must also be loosened. When the cutter frame |51 has been moved to a position in which the cutting edges of the knife blades |58 and |59 are accuratey disposed intermediate the impressions on the web W when the web is brought to rest, the nuts |56 and the clamp |10, Fig. 3, are again tightened, and the clannp block |83, Fig. 9, is tightened after it has been moved into a position to take up the slack in the belt |18. The delivery table l 9| is bodily movable with the cutter frame |51, as are also the web feeding rollers |15, Fig. 10, and hence no separate adjustments of these parts are necessary.

From the foregoing description it is believed to be apparent that I have provided a web handling apparatus for use in printing machines which materially expedites the feeding and severing of web material in such machines. The invention is particularly advantageous in that it may be employed to adapt conventional printing machines, which ordinarily handle individual sheets or forms, to the handling of web material. The web feeding and stopping means is so arranged that any unwanted movement of the web is prevented and accuracy in the sizing of the sheets is insured, and various adjustments are afforded whereby the size of the sheets may readily be varied.

While I' have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modiflcation and I therefore do not wish to be limited to theprecise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

I claim:

l. In a web handling mechanism for use with a printing machine, means for supplying a web, a feed roller and an opposed pressure roller engaging said web with a continuous clamping action, `a rotating member, a toothed wheel mounted coaxially with said rotating member, means interconnecting4 said wheel and said feed roller, a

ment. A ratchet |95 is xed to the threaded shaft f pawl mounted on said rotatable member and ncrmally engaging said wheel to drive said wheel and said feed roller rotatively, a stationary cam effective during a portion of each rotation of said memberto disengage said ypawl from saidwheel,

.Web from S81id Supply means may be passed, a

constantly rotating driving member, a driven member disposed in coaxial relation to said driving member and operatively connected to said feed roller for imparting rotary feeding movement thereto, means for releasably connecting said driving and driven members, means control- I ling said connecting means to connect said drlvin and driven members during a portion of a rotative cycle of the driving member and to disconnect said members during the remainder of such cycle, brake means operatively associated with said feed roller to stop said feed roller, and operating means for said brake means for applying and releasing said brake means, and including an element carried on said driving member and operable to release said brake means when said driven member is connected to said driving member and to apply said brake means when said driven member is disconnected from said driving member.

3. In a web handling mechanism for use with a printing machine, means for supplying a web,v a feed roller and an opposed pressure roller for engaging a web, a rotating member, a toothed wheel mounted coaxially with said rotating member, means interconnecting said toothed wheel and said vfeed roller, a pawl mounted on said rotatable member and having an active position wherein it is engaged with said toothed wheel to drive said feed roller and having an inactive position wherein it is disengaged from said toothed wheel, spring means urging said pawl toward said active position, a first cam follower on said pawl, a stationary cam having a leading cam surface adapted to be engaged by said first cam follower at a predetermined point in the rotative movement of said rotating member to disengage said pawl from said toothed wheel, said cam having means affording a dwell surface of adjustable length operable upon said first cam follower to maintain said pawl out of engagement with said toothed wheel for an adjustably predetermined portion of the rotative movement of said rotating member, a brake having released and applied relationships and operable when applied to restrain said feed roller against movement, means normally operable to release said brake, means for applying said brake, including a second cam follower, and a cam mounted on said rotating member and arranged to engage said second cam follower` at substantially the same time that said leading surface is engaged by said rst cam follower.

4. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a web suppliedthereto, a rotating printing' couple having a printing medium intermittently engageable with the web to make successive impressions thereon, web supply means. web looping means controlling said web supply means and operable to form a supply loop of.predetermined size in the web, a feed roller and an opposed pressure roller for engaging the web between said looping means and said printing couple, a. rotating member rotatable synchronously with said printing couple, a toothed wheel mounted coaxially with said rotating member, means interconnecting said toothed wheel and said roller, a pawl mounted on said rotatable member and having an active position wherein it is engaged with said toothed wheel to drive said feed roller and having an inactive position wherein it is disengaged from said toothed Wheel, spring means urging said pawl toward said active position, a rst cam follower on said pawl, a stationary cam having a leading cam surface adapted to be engaged by said first cam follower at a predetermined point in the rotative movement of said rotating memy member and arranged to engage said second cam follower and apply said brake at substantially the same time that said leading cam surface of said stationary cam is engaged by said rst cam follower.

CHARLES H. SAND. 

